We show that every finite, finitely related algebra in a congruence
distributive variety has a near unanimity term operation.
As a consequence we solve the near unanimity problem for relational
structures: it is decidable whether a given finite set of relations on
a finite set admits a compatible near unanimity operation. This
consequence also implies that it is decidable whether a given finite
constraint language defines a constraint satisfaction problem of
bounded strict width.

We show that every finite, finitely related algebra in a congruence
distributive variety has a near unanimity term operation.
As a consequence we solve the near unanimity problem for relational
structures: it is decidable whether a given finite set of relations on
a finite set admits a compatible near unanimity operation. This
consequence also implies that it is decidable whether a given finite
constraint language defines a constraint satisfaction problem of
bounded strict width.

We prove a non-vanishing result for families of
$\operatorname{GL}_n\times\operatorname{GL}_n$ Rankin-Selberg $L$-functions in the critical strip,
as one factor runs over twists by Hecke characters. As an
application, we simplify the proof, due to Luo, Rudnick, and Sarnak,
of the best known bounds towards the Generalized Ramanujan Conjecture
at the infinite places for cusp forms on $\operatorname{GL}_n$. A key ingredient is
the regularization of the units in residue classes by the use of an
Arakelov ray class group.

We prove a non-vanishing result for families of
$\operatorname{GL}_n\times\operatorname{GL}_n$ Rankin-Selberg $L$-functions in the critical strip,
as one factor runs over twists by Hecke characters. As an
application, we simplify the proof, due to Luo, Rudnick, and Sarnak,
of the best known bounds towards the Generalized Ramanujan Conjecture
at the infinite places for cusp forms on $\operatorname{GL}_n$. A key ingredient is
the regularization of the units in residue classes by the use of an
Arakelov ray class group.

In this paper we consider near inclusions $A\subseteq_\gamma B$ of C$^*$-algebras. We show that if $B$ is a separable type $\mathrm{I}$ C$^*$-algebra and $A$ satisfies Kadison's similarity problem, then $A$ is also type $\mathrm{I}$ and use this to obtain an embedding of $A$ into $B$.

In this paper we consider near inclusions $A\subseteq_\gamma B$ of C$^*$-algebras. We show that if $B$ is a separable type $\mathrm{I}$ C$^*$-algebra and $A$ satisfies Kadison's similarity problem, then $A$ is also type $\mathrm{I}$ and use this to obtain an embedding of $A$ into $B$.

In this paper we give an explicit formula for the flag curvature of
homogeneous Randers spaces of Douglas type and apply this formula to
obtain some interesting results. We first deduce an explicit formula
for the flag curvature of an arbitrary left invariant Randers metric
on a two-step nilpotent Lie group. Then we obtain a classification of
negatively curved homogeneous Randers spaces of Douglas type. This
results, in particular, in many examples of homogeneous non-Riemannian
Finsler spaces with negative flag curvature. Finally, we prove a
rigidity result that a homogeneous Randers space of Berwald type whose
flag curvature is everywhere nonzero must be Riemannian.

In this paper we give an explicit formula for the flag curvature of
homogeneous Randers spaces of Douglas type and apply this formula to
obtain some interesting results. We first deduce an explicit formula
for the flag curvature of an arbitrary left invariant Randers metric
on a two-step nilpotent Lie group. Then we obtain a classification of
negatively curved homogeneous Randers spaces of Douglas type. This
results, in particular, in many examples of homogeneous non-Riemannian
Finsler spaces with negative flag curvature. Finally, we prove a
rigidity result that a homogeneous Randers space of Berwald type whose
flag curvature is everywhere nonzero must be Riemannian.

Let $X$ be an
$n$-dimensional, finite, simply connected CW complex and set
$\alpha_X =\limsup_i \frac{\log\mbox{ rank}\, \pi_i(X)}{i}$. When
$0\lt \alpha_X\lt \infty$, we give upper and lower bound for $
\sum_{i=k+2}^{k+n} \textrm{rank}\, \pi_i(X) $ for $k$ sufficiently
large. We show also for any $r$ that $\alpha_X$ can be estimated
from the integers rk$\,\pi_i(X)$, $i\leq nr$ with an error bound
depending explicitly on $r$.

Let $X$ be an
$n$-dimensional, finite, simply connected CW complex and set
$\alpha_X =\limsup_i \frac{\log\mbox{ rank}\, \pi_i(X)}{i}$. When
$0\lt \alpha_X\lt \infty$, we give upper and lower bound for $
\sum_{i=k+2}^{k+n} \textrm{rank}\, \pi_i(X) $ for $k$ sufficiently
large. We show also for any $r$ that $\alpha_X$ can be estimated
from the integers rk$\,\pi_i(X)$, $i\leq nr$ with an error bound
depending explicitly on $r$.

We characterize equicontinuous Delone dynamical systems as those
coming from Delone sets with strongly almost periodic Dirac combs.
Within the class of systems with finite local complexity, the only
equicontinuous systems are then shown to be the crystallographic
ones. On the other hand, within the class without finite local
complexity, we exhibit examples of equicontinuous minimal Delone
dynamical systems that are not crystallographic.
Our results solve the problem posed by Lagarias as to whether a Delone
set whose Dirac comb is strongly almost periodic must be
crystallographic.

We characterize equicontinuous Delone dynamical systems as those
coming from Delone sets with strongly almost periodic Dirac combs.
Within the class of systems with finite local complexity, the only
equicontinuous systems are then shown to be the crystallographic
ones. On the other hand, within the class without finite local
complexity, we exhibit examples of equicontinuous minimal Delone
dynamical systems that are not crystallographic.
Our results solve the problem posed by Lagarias as to whether a Delone
set whose Dirac comb is strongly almost periodic must be
crystallographic.

Let $P\in\mathbb Z[n]$ with $P(0)=0$ and $\varepsilon\gt 0$.
We show, using Fourier analytic techniques, that if $N\geq
\exp\exp(C\varepsilon^{-1}\log\varepsilon^{-1})$ and
$A\subseteq\{1,\dots,N\}$, then there must exist $n\in\mathbb N$ such that
\[\frac{|A\cap (A+P(n))|}{N}\gt \left(\frac{|A|}{N}\right)^2-\varepsilon.\]
In addition to this we also show, using the same Fourier analytic
methods, that if $A\subseteq\mathbb N$, then the set of
$\varepsilon$-optimal return times
\[R(A,P,\varepsilon)=\left\{n\in \mathbb N
\,:\,\delta(A\cap(A+P(n)))\gt \delta(A)^2-\varepsilon\right\}\]
is syndetic for every $\varepsilon\gt 0$. Moreover, we show that
$R(A,P,\varepsilon)$ is dense in every sufficiently long interval, in particular we show that
there exists an $L=L(\varepsilon,P,A)$ such that
\[\left|R(A,P,\varepsilon)\cap I\right|
\geq c(\varepsilon,P)|I|\]
for all intervals $I$ of natural numbers with $|I|\geq L$ and
$c(\varepsilon,P)=\exp\exp(-C\,\varepsilon^{-1}\log\varepsilon^{-1})$.

Let $P\in\mathbb Z[n]$ with $P(0)=0$ and $\varepsilon\gt 0$.
We show, using Fourier analytic techniques, that if $N\geq
\exp\exp(C\varepsilon^{-1}\log\varepsilon^{-1})$ and
$A\subseteq\{1,\dots,N\}$, then there must exist $n\in\mathbb N$ such that
\[\frac{|A\cap (A+P(n))|}{N}\gt \left(\frac{|A|}{N}\right)^2-\varepsilon.\]

In addition to this we also show, using the same Fourier analytic
methods, that if $A\subseteq\mathbb N$, then the set of
$\varepsilon$-optimal return times
\[R(A,P,\varepsilon)=\left\{n\in \mathbb N
\,:\,\delta(A\cap(A+P(n)))\gt \delta(A)^2-\varepsilon\right\}\]
is syndetic for every $\varepsilon\gt 0$. Moreover, we show that
$R(A,P,\varepsilon)$ is dense in every sufficiently long interval, in particular we show that
there exists an $L=L(\varepsilon,P,A)$ such that
\[\left|R(A,P,\varepsilon)\cap I\right|
\geq c(\varepsilon,P)|I|\]
for all intervals $I$ of natural numbers with $|I|\geq L$ and
$c(\varepsilon,P)=\exp\exp(-C\,\varepsilon^{-1}\log\varepsilon^{-1})$.

We classify minimal surfaces of general type with $p_g=q=2$ and
$K^2=6$ whose Albanese map is a generically finite double cover.
We show that the corresponding moduli space is the disjoint union
of three generically smooth irreducible components
$\mathcal{M}_{Ia}$, $\mathcal{M}_{Ib}$, $\mathcal{M}_{II}$ of
dimension $4$, $4$, $3$, respectively.

We classify minimal surfaces of general type with $p_g=q=2$ and
$K^2=6$ whose Albanese map is a generically finite double cover.
We show that the corresponding moduli space is the disjoint union
of three generically smooth irreducible components
$\mathcal{M}_{Ia}$, $\mathcal{M}_{Ib}$, $\mathcal{M}_{II}$ of
dimension $4$, $4$, $3$, respectively.

A metric space $\mathrm{M}=(M;\operatorname{d})$ is {\em homogeneous} if for every
isometry $f$ of a finite subspace of $\mathrm{M}$ to a subspace of
$\mathrm{M}$ there exists an isometry of $\mathrm{M}$ onto
$\mathrm{M}$ extending $f$. The space $\mathrm{M}$ is {\em universal}
if it isometrically embeds every finite metric space $\mathrm{F}$ with
$\operatorname{dist}(\mathrm{F})\subseteq \operatorname{dist}(\mathrm{M})$. (With
$\operatorname{dist}(\mathrm{M})$ being the set of distances between points in
$\mathrm{M}$.)
A metric space $\boldsymbol{U}$ is an {\em Urysohn} metric space if
it is homogeneous, universal, separable and complete. (It is not
difficult to deduce
that an Urysohn metric space $\boldsymbol{U}$ isometrically embeds
every separable metric space $\mathrm{M}$ with
$\operatorname{dist}(\mathrm{M})\subseteq \operatorname{dist}(\boldsymbol{U})$.)
The main results are: (1) A characterization of the sets
$\operatorname{dist}(\boldsymbol{U})$ for Urysohn metric spaces $\boldsymbol{U}$.
(2) If $R$ is the distance set of an Urysohn metric space and
$\mathrm{M}$ and $\mathrm{N}$ are two metric spaces, of any
cardinality with distances in $R$, then they amalgamate disjointly to
a metric space with distances in $R$. (3) The completion of every
homogeneous, universal, separable metric space $\mathrm{M}$ is
homogeneous.

A metric space $\mathrm{M}=(M;\operatorname{d})$ is {\em homogeneous} if for every
isometry $f$ of a finite subspace of $\mathrm{M}$ to a subspace of
$\mathrm{M}$ there exists an isometry of $\mathrm{M}$ onto
$\mathrm{M}$ extending $f$. The space $\mathrm{M}$ is {\em universal}
if it isometrically embeds every finite metric space $\mathrm{F}$ with
$\operatorname{dist}(\mathrm{F})\subseteq \operatorname{dist}(\mathrm{M})$. (With
$\operatorname{dist}(\mathrm{M})$ being the set of distances between points in
$\mathrm{M}$.)

A metric space $\boldsymbol{U}$ is an {\em Urysohn} metric space if
it is homogeneous, universal, separable and complete. (It is not
difficult to deduce
that an Urysohn metric space $\boldsymbol{U}$ isometrically embeds
every separable metric space $\mathrm{M}$ with
$\operatorname{dist}(\mathrm{M})\subseteq \operatorname{dist}(\boldsymbol{U})$.)

The main results are: (1) A characterization of the sets
$\operatorname{dist}(\boldsymbol{U})$ for Urysohn metric spaces $\boldsymbol{U}$.
(2) If $R$ is the distance set of an Urysohn metric space and
$\mathrm{M}$ and $\mathrm{N}$ are two metric spaces, of any
cardinality with distances in $R$, then they amalgamate disjointly to
a metric space with distances in $R$. (3) The completion of every
homogeneous, universal, separable metric space $\mathrm{M}$ is
homogeneous.